Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Nov 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEfficacy of a fabricated customized splint and tendon and nerve gliding exercises for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
To compare the effects of a neutral wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) splint with a wrist cock-up splint, with and without exercises, for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). ⋯ Our results validate the use of wrist splints for the treatment of CTS, and suggest that a splint that supports the wrist and MCP joints in neutral may be more effective than a wrist cock-up splint.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Nov 2007
ReviewGrowth and payment adequacy of medicare postacute care rehabilitation.
In the early 1990s, Medicare experienced rapid growth in the number of providers furnishing postacute care (PAC). Spending grew at an even faster pace than the supply of providers. By the late 1990s, the U. ⋯ This article presents growth trends in providers and Medicare spending. It discusses the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) assessment of payment adequacy for 2006 and 2007 for the 4 postacute sectors and problems with the PPSs that result in misaligned payments and costs. This article also reviews MedPAC's studies to compare patient-assessment instruments for 3 of the 4 settings and to compare outcomes across settings for joint-replacement patients.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Nov 2007
Clinical correlates of elevated serum concentrations of cytokines and autoantibodies in patients with spinal cord injury.
To determine the serum cytokine profiles of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and varying clinical presentations relative to healthy, able-bodied, age-matched control subjects. ⋯ Elevated levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and autoantibodies are present in the serum of SCI subjects without medical complications, and are further elevated in SCI subjects with neuropathic pain, UTI, or pressure ulcers, relative to healthy, able-bodied control subjects. These findings may be indicative of a protective autoimmunity, simply a consequence of occult or evident infection, or evidence of cytokine dysregulation that may contribute to an immune-mediated impairment of axonal conduction.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Nov 2007
Differences in isometric neck muscle strength between healthy controls and women with chronic neck pain: the use of a reliable measurement.
To determine the intra- and interrater reliability of the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer to measure the maximal isometric strength of the cervical flexors and extensors, to develop an age- and sex-based normative database in a healthy population, and to evaluate the differences in neck strength between women with chronic neck pain and healthy controls. ⋯ Results show a high degree of intra- and interrater reliability in measuring isometric neck muscle strength when using the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. The use of normative data for neck strength when evaluating patients with neck disorders needs to take sex into account. The current study has shown that women with chronic neck pain have lower neck muscle strength in extension than the healthy female group.